Serious cocktails

Kathryn Yu: The Mezcal Mule is just the right mix of fruity, sour, smoky, and spicy.

Kathryn Yu: Go before 7:30pm on Sundays through Wednesdays. Sit at the bar. Don't trust the doorman's time estimates if he puts your name down--it's very hard to predict when people will leave.

Kathryn Yu: From the Summer 2011 menu: I'm fond of the Tomatillo Highball with gin, tomatillo juice, basil syrup, and jalapeno.

Kathryn Yu: Try the Ex Pat (a bourbon sour with mint) or the Peat's Word (a Last Word with Scotch).

Kathryn Yu: Try the Leilani's Fizz with gin, lychee, lime, lemongrass syrup. Or the Tia Mia, a mezcal take on the Mai Tai, with mezcal, Jamaican rum, orgeat, orange liqueur, and lime.

Kathryn Yu: Cold outside? Try one of the new hot tiki drinks -- hot zombie, hot mai tai, coffee grog, spiked apple cider, or hot buttered rum.

Kathryn Yu: Go off menu. Tell them what you like. Don't be weird.

Kathryn Yu: Try the Jungle Bird. Black strap rum, fresh pineapple juice, campari, lime!

Kathryn Yu: Go to Angel's Share when it's snowing outside. Try to get a window seat. And keep your voices down.

Kathryn Yu: Order a Dark and Stormy, Milk & Honey style.

Time Out New York: Try the sherry cobbler. Bar mgr Dan Greenbaum adds raspberries muddled w/ a wedge of lemon & a splash of simple syrup to Lustau Dry Amontillado sherry. It’s one of our #100best dishes & drinks of 2011 En savoir plus .

Village Voice: We love the jazzy atmosphere here, almost as much as we love sipping on theBlue Collar – a mix of rye, amaro, and sweet vermouth.

AskMen: A truly funky cocktail list: frozen 'lushies' like the snow groni, a menu of "tight, rich & boozy" drinks a la the crippler, shots made with orange soda and hot sauce; and so on & so forth. En savoir plus .

Time Out New York: Try the fried chickpeas, tossed with a savory mix of salt, cayenne pepper and pungent garam masala. It’s one of our #100best dishes and drinks of 2011. En savoir plus .

naveen: Smith & Mills is one of my favorite places in the city. Better to go earlier in the evening (or on a weekend or on an off-night). Otherwise, the tiny spot is packed+loses charm